Family of five-speed transmission mechanisms having three planetary gear sets and a stationary interconnecting member

Abstract

The family of transmissions has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least five forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission family members include three planetary gear sets and four clutches. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to at least one member of the planetary gear arrangement and an output member that is continuously connected with another of the planetary gear members. At least one member of the first and second planetary gear sets is continuously connected with the transmission housing. The four clutches provide interconnections between various gear members and with the input and the output shaft, and are operated in combinations of two to establish at least five forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A multi-speed transmission comprising: 
       an input shaft;  
       an output shaft;  
       first, second and third planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members;  
       said input shaft being continuously interconnected with one of said members planetary gear sets, said output shaft being continuously interconnected with another one of said member of said planetary gear sets;  
       a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting said first members of said first and second planetary gear sets with a transmission housing;  
       a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting said second member of said second planetary gear set with said first member of said third planetary gear set;  
       a first torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set with said third member of said second planetary gear sets;  
       a second torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set with one of said member of said third planetary gear sets;  
       a third torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set with said second or third member of said second or third planetary gear sets;  
       a fourth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting one of said member of said third planetary gear sets with said second or third member of said first planetary gear sets, said members interconnected by said fourth torque-transmitting mechanism being different from the members interconnected by said second or third torque-transmitting mechanisms; and  
       said first, second, third, and fourth torque-transmitting mechanisms being engaged in combinations of two to establish at least five forward speed ratios and a reverse speed ratio between said input shaft and said output shaft.  
     
     
       2. The transmission defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first torque-transmitting mechanism comprises a clutch. 
     
     
       3. The transmission defined in  claim 1 , wherein said second torque-transmitting mechanism comprises a clutch. 
     
     
       4. The transmission defined in  claim 1 , wherein said third torque-transmitting mechanism comprises a clutch. 
     
     
       5. The transmission defined in  claim 1 , wherein said fourth torque-transmitting mechanism comprises a clutch. 
     
     
       6. A multi-speed transmission comprising: 
       an input shaft;  
       an output shaft;  
       first, second and third planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members;  
       said input shaft being continuously interconnected with said second or third member of one of said planetary gear sets said output shaft being continuously interconnected with another one of said members of said planetary gear sets;  
       a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting said first members of said first and second planetary gear sets with a transmission housing;  
       a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting said second member of said second planetary gear set with said first member of said third planetary gear set;  
       four selectively engageable clutches engageable in combinations of two to establish at least five forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio between said input shaft and said output shaft.  
     
     
       7. The transmission defined in  claim 6 , wherein planet carrier assembly members of said planetary gear sets are of the single-pinion type. 
     
     
       8. The transmission defined in  claim 6 , wherein at least one planet carrier assembly member of said planetary gear sets is of the double-pinion type. 
     
     
       9. A multi-speed transmission comprising: 
       an input shaft;  
       an output shaft;  
       first, second and third planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members;  
       said input shaft being continuously interconnected with one of said member of said planetary gear sets, said output shaft being continuously interconnected with another one of said member of said planetary gear sets;  
       a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting said first members of said first and second planetary gear sets with a transmission housing;  
       a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting said second member of said second planetary gear set with said first member of said third planetary gear set;  
       first, second, third and fourth torque transmitting mechanisms being selectively engageable in pairs to establish combinations of members joined for common rotation to provide at least five forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft, said combinations including either:  
       said first torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said third member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, said second torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, said third torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, and said fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said second member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member; or  
       said first torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said third member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, said second torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, said third torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, and said fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said second member of second planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member; or  
       said first torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said third member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, said second torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, said third torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, and said fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, or  
       said first torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said third member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, said second torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, said third torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, and said fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member; or  
       said first torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said third member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, said second torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, said third torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, and said fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member; or  
       said first torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said third member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, said second torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, said third torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said third member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, and said fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member; or  
       said first torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said third member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, said second torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, said third torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, and said fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as ring gear member, with said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member; or  
       said first torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said third member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, said second torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, said third torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said second member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, and said fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member; or  
       said first torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said third member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, said second torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, said third torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, and said fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member; or  
       said first torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said third member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, said second torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said first member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, said third torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, and said fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member; or  
       said first torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said third member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, said second torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said first member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, said third torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, and said fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member; or  
       said first torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said third member of said second planetary gear set implemented as a ring gear member, said second torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, said third torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, and said fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member; or  
       said first torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said third member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, said second torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said first member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, said third torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, and said fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member; or  
       said first torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said third member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a a ring gear member, said second torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnection said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, said third torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, and said fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, with said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member; or  
       said first torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said third member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, said second torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said second member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member, said third torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a sun gear member, with said third member of said third planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, and said fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set, implemented as a ring gear member, with said second member of said second planetary gear set, implemented as a planet carrier assembly member.